Dear Editor,
While I laud the commitment of Digicel in sponsoring the second edition of the Digicel Nationwide Schools Football Competition, which according to a report has attracted 154 participating teams, I have a point of contention about Bygeval Multilateral inflicting an 11-1 drubbing on a hapless Buxton lineup. In the opening encounter on Friday, June15, at the GCC Ground, Bourda, I was confirmed in my support of the African saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
This can be extended to include the support of a village for a football team/club, and more importantly for a school team. As a consequence the result remains utterly disgraceful. More so, when it’s taken into consideration that the village has two football clubs – one of which participates in the GFF National League, and the other in the East Demerara FA Senior League.
Furthermore, both Buxton clubs have qualified coaches, with one actively involved with Bakewell Buxton Stars, and the other being the Technical Development Officer of the Guyana Football Federation, and a holder of an English FA B Licence Certificate. Apart from this, the village also has a ground of its own. So, how much would it have taken out of both coaches to voluntarily conduct coaching sessions for the school-age youngsters, many of whom could be subsequently absorbed into their respective clubs, and save that proud village with its rich cultural and historical background from public embarrassment and humiliation?
It ought to be incumbent upon all clubs and associations to assist schools with proper coaching and administration whenever necessary, since most coaches and administrators in some way or the other would have benefited from courses and seminars under the auspices of the GFF. The Com-Unity Seminar funded by FIFA, was one of those which also facilitated Adidas sponsored uniforms being distributed to the participants, along with certificates of participation. At the end of the day which communities and clubs benefited from this? Photo opportunities for participants, the GFF executive and instructors, still doesn’t translate into actual learning, retaining and imparting knowledge. At the end of the day was it Con-Unity?
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
